Shed for engines, &amp;c.



PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905.

D. MAOPHERSON.

SHED FOR ENGINES, &c.

APPLICATION FILED AUG 12 1904 ANDREW UNITED STAEES PATENT CFFICE.

DUNCAN MACPHERSON, OF B'IONTREAL, CANADA.

SHED FOR ENGINES, 81.0.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, ]9L 5.

Application filed August 12, 1904. Serial No. 220,577.

hicles; and ldo hereby declare that the fol- I lowing is a full, clear, and exact description 5 of the same.

My invention has for its object to provide in substitution for the circular shed heretofore used a rectangular shed for the storage of engines or railway motor-vehicles generally, such as electric cars or the like.

The invention may be said to consist of a rectangular and preferably oblong shed having first a series of longitudinal parallel tracks extending from end to end of its floorspace and terminating at one end outside of the shed in preferably a single track common to all the longitudinal tracks, and in combination with the longitudinal series a second series of diagonal parallel tracks, one of which tracks extends diagonally across the floorspace from one corner thereof to another and intersects the tracks of the first-mentioned series and the others of which, of less length, also extend diagonally from one point to another on the first series. These diagonal tracks enable an engine or the like to be moved from one of the longitudinal tracks to another and thence out of the shed or completely across such longitudinal tracks say from one innermost rear corner of the floor-space to a diagonally opposite outermost corner, or vice versa-amd they also allow an engine or the like to be moved while within the shed from one pit to any other pit, of which there are a numberundereach longitudinal track. If desired, a single diagonal track can be used instead of a series, but less advantageously.

For full comprehension, however, of my invention reference must be had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar reference characters indicate the same parts, and wherein- Figure l is a diagrammatical plan view of an engine-shed constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view thereof.

My oblong rectangular shed may be built of any desired material and comprises end walls 6 71, side walls a c, and roof (Z, one of the end walls being provided with a series of doors A, series of parallel tracks 7, 5 7 g, g", and g extend longitudinally from end to end of the shed and out through the doors and preferably converge to a common point, where they terminate in a single track while a second series of parallel tracks 1' i i I I extend diagonally across the longitudinal series, and the points of intersection of these two series are provided with slip-switches K. which enable any engine or the like to be moved out without disturbing the others.

A series of pits of the kind usually required for repairs or cleaning are sunk in the lioor of the shed between the rails of each of the longitudinal tracks, and an additional function of the diagonal rails is to enable an engine or the like to he moved from one of the pits to any other pit of the series without leaving the shed.

The advantages attendant upon my improved construction of shed is that, lirst,in case of lire a full shed of,say, forty-two engines can be run out of danger in an exceedingly short space of time even if only one engine on each track is under steam; secondly, no turn-table is required to stall the engines, and a Y 11 can be utilized and the turn-table dispensed with, which reduces the initial expense and cost of maintenance and operation, and, thirdly, a less costly building will sullice, as fewer doors are required than in the usual circular shed, thus dispensing with a considerable number of windows and avoiding the breakage thereof.

If desired, the main diagonal track i alone may be used and the other tracks 1', 1.", 1", and I of the series dispensed with, but less advantageously.

\Vhat I. claim is as follows:

1. A rectangular shed having its floor-space laid with a series of parallel tracks extending longitudinally of the shed from end to end thereof, a second series of diagonal parallel tracks one of which diagonal tracks extends diagonally across the longitudinal tracks from one corner of the floorspace to another and means whereby the tracks of the diagonal series are caused to communicate with the tracks of the longitudinal series, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

2. A rectangularshcd having its floor-space laid with a series of parallel tracks extending longitudinally of the shed, from end to end thereof, a second series of diagonal parallel tracks, one of which diagonal tracks extends diagonally across the longitudinal tracks from one corner of the floor-space to another, and a series of slip-switches located at the points of intersection of the tracks of one series with the tracks of the other series, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

3'. A rectangular shed having its floor-space laid with a series of parallel tracks extending longitudinally from end to end thereof, a second series of diagonal parallel tracks, one of which diagonal tracks extends diagonally across the longitudinal tracks from one corner of the floor-space to another, the floor-space of the shed having a series of pits between the rails of each of the longitudinal tracks, and means whereby the tracks of one series are caused to communicate with the tracks of the other series, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

4. A rectangular shed having its floor-space laid with a series of parallel tracks extending longitudinally from end to end thereof, a second series of diagonal parallel tracks extending diagonally across the longitudinal tracks, the floor-space of the shed having a series of pits between the rails of each of the longitudinal tracks, and means whereby the tracks of one series are caused to communicate with the tracks of the-other series so that an engine, or the like, can be moved from one pit to any other pit of the series, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

5. A rectangular shed having its floor-space laid with a series of parallel tracks extending longitudinally from end to end thereof, a series of parallel tracks extending diagonally across the longitudinal tracks, the floor-space of the shed having a series of pits between the rails of each of the longitudinal tracks, and a series of slip-switches located at the points of intersection of the tracks of one series with the tracks of the other series Whereby an engine, or the like, can be moved from one pit to any other pit of the series, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

6. A rectangular shed having its floor-space DUN CAN MAOPHERSON.

l/Vitnesses:

WILLIAM P. MGFEAT, FRED. J. SEARS. 

